I missed posting last week because, I was in Wyoming visiting family. It was my first time to that part of the country. We visited Yellowstone and Teton National Park. It was gorgeous. Here are some pictures.

A while back I posted pictures of the interior of our house and some of you asked for shots of the property. So, here you go. I took my camera out on what we call the loop. I even had a visitor. Check it out.

Folks have been asking how I go about creating patterns. It starts first with an inspiration, which I usually find on my walks on the 200 acre orchard I live on in Happy Valley.

Lately I’ve been inspired by spring and all the wild life and flowers, in particular beetles. I first start by sketching. I gather ideas and inspiration from pictures on the web or pictures I have taken. Here is an original sketch of the beetles from my sketchbook.

Then I sketch them on watercolor paper and watercolor them. Here is an example of two of the finished pieces. I can also use these finished watercolors to make cards and other lovely gifts.

I then scan each individual beetle and place them in a repeat pattern in Photoshop. Below is the final repeat pattern that can be placed on any surface curtains, wrapping paper, iPhone cases, calendars, cards, etc.

Here is an iPhone case that I had made with the pattern.

If you are interested in having a product created with my patterns, let me know. Check out my website and see all the patterns that I have available.